Process for producing fibers from rhea-plants.



' from Their Stalks, of which the following is.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFF oE;

GUSTAV HERMANN ROEDER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANTA; CHRISTIANA K. ROEDER, ADMINISTRATRIX SAID GUSTAV HERMANN ROEDER, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR- TO ERNEST F. GREEFF AND ALBERT TILT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND CHARLES C. ROSSIRE,

OF YONKERS, NEW YORK. 1

PROCESS FOR PRODUCING FIBERS FROM RHEA-PLANTS.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 10, 1908.

Application filed March 3,1908. Serial No. 145,998. Renewed July 20,1907. Serial 110.384,?63.

To all whom it may concern. 7

Be it known that I, GUS AV HERMANN ROEDER, a citizen of the'Republic of Brazil, residing in Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Producing Rhea Fibers a s ecification.

his invention relates to an improved process of treating the stalks of the rhea fiber for obtaining the fibers from the same.

Many attempts have been made heretofore for producing the rhea fibers, as the same form a very valuable substitute for silk and an important fiber for the textile industry. These attempts have not been successful for the reason that the dried stalks were treated, and the textile industry using the fibers were compelled to obtain the same from China, Where the fibers could be obtained at a less expense owing to the cheap hand labor ,in that country. Notwithstanding repeated attempts for treating the rhea fiber by mechanical, chemical and combined mechanical and chemical means, these attempts were unsuccessful and the culture of the rhea lant in the difierent' sections of the worl was therefore discontinued, for the reason that a reliable, effective and comparatively cheap process has not been invented.

The rhea fibers, to be capable of general introduction in the textile industry, must cost about the same as the cotton fibers. For this reason it is necessary to improve the mechanical and chemical operations to which the fiber is subjected in such a manner that they not only permit the roduction of the fiber at a low price, but eave also to the cultivators of the plant a sufficient profit for inducing them to raise the same.

The object of my invention is to furnish an squeezing the decorticated fibers so as to express the sap or juice from the same, then subjecting the fibers to a grinding action for separating the fibers one from the other, then su jectin'g them to the action of a suitable hydrocarbon solvent for extractin the gummy substances contained in the fibers, and finally washing and drying the fibers.

In carrying out my improved process for producing fibers from rhea and plants of the same genus, the stalks are cut off in the green state by hand or machine, and are then subjected, in green condition, to the action of a deoorticating machine, in which the entire stalks are gradually broken up so as to remove the leaves and break up the bark and woody parts. From the decorticating machine, the fibers of the stalks are passed through squeezing rolls, which exert a flattening or squeezing action on the decorticated material, and express at-the same time the sap or juice contained in the same, which is utilized as a by-product, by treating it in the usual manner with diluted acids or diastase so as to convert the starch and dextrin in the sap into glucose, from which, after fermentation and distillation, alcohol is obtained. During the decorticating of the stalks, the small limbs, leaves, etc., are beaten ofi from the stalks and are then collected, and subjected with the small stalks that are not of the proper length for the de corticating action, to the action of a grinding mill so as to be comminuted and then placed in a cooking vessel, such as is used in the manufacture of sulfite pulp, and subjected to the action of a concentrated alkali lye, the fiber'obtained being utilized in the manufacture of paper, in the usual manner. The decorticated and squeezed fibers from the squeezing rolls are subjected to the action of a grinding mill of that class in which the rolls are rotated on a suitable foundation, so that thereby the lateral connection of the fibers is discontinued by the comminuting of the con necting parts,v This grinding action is necessary so as to break up the interior lateral connection of the particles of the fibers, which is not sufliciently accomplished by the action of the squeezing rolls. The decorticated, squeezed and laterally se arated fibers are then sub'ected to a hy rocarbon solvent,

from eac 'passed through'a separating machine so as to complete the longitudinal separation of the fibers. The so prepared and dried fibers are then capable of bemg spun, without requiring anybleaching, especially in such cases where the fabric woven from the fibers is to be dyed. In case, however, the fabric is not I to be dyed, it is preferable to subject the woven fabric to a bleaching operation.

My improved process of treating rhea plants for obtaining the fiber from thesai'ne, produces a long fiber of white tenacious quality, which produces-textile fabrics that a preach closely silk fabrics, and which can e used as a substitute for the same. The production of the fiber is accomplished directly after the harvesting of the plants, so that the cultivation of the rhea plant in such countries of the world where it can be grown can be taken up to advantage, and thereby the rhea fiber supplied in larger quantities and in a better condition for use in the textile industry, than heretofore.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

The process herein described of producing fibers from therhea lant, which consists in, first, decorticating tfie stalks while still in a fresh or green condition for remo the bark an woody parts; second, s owly squeezing the decorticated fibers for expressmg the thin sap or juice from the same; third su jecting the decorticated and squeeze fibers to a grinding action for separating the bers from each other and for removing the remaining woody parts; fourth, removing the igk'ummy substances still contained in the bers by subjecting the same to the action of a mixture of alkali lye and a suitable hydrocarbon solvent; fifth, removing the fibers from said solvent; and, lastly, washing and drying the same.

- In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscrib' witnesses.

GUSTAV HERMANN ROEDER.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, C. P. GoEPEL. 

